Stamp handling implement



June 1963 N'; D. DIAMANTIDES 3,092,410

STAMP HANDLING IMPLEMENT Filed May 1, 1961 FIG. 3

IN VEN TOR.

Unitcd States Patent O 3,092,410 STAMP HANDLING IMPLEMENT Nick D. Diamantides, 2517 14th St., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 106,640 3 Claims. (Cl. 2942) The invention relates in general to implements which can be utilized in handling generally flat articles preferably of paper or the like and more particularly to such implements which may be utilized in handling stamps.

An object of the present invention is to provide an implement for seizing and holding a stamp where no pressure is required on the part of the person utilizing the implement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamp handling implement which can be put aside for any period of time without losing hold of the stamp.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamp handling implement which may be utilized to hold more than one stamp at a time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamp handling implement which is generally of the size of a pencil and which can be handled in much the same manner in viewing stamps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamp handling implement which can be conveniently carried on ones person and which can be equipped with a pocket clip in the same manner as a lead pencil.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamp handling implement which can be used by philatelists in order to prevent damage, soiling, or creasing of sometimes quite expensive stamps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamp handling implement which does away with the disadvantages encountered in utilizing devices like tweezers in handling stamps.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE '1 is a plan view of the stamp handling implement of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the stamp handling implement; and

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the implement.

The stamp handling implement which has been shown in the accompanying drawings includes in combination a generally fiat solid blade member 1 which has slightly upturned spade end portion 8 with an upper surface. The blade member 1 is provided with two slots 4 which extend in a generally lengthwise direction and through the blade member. A slide 2 is positioned on the upper surface of the blade member 1 and is adapted for back and forth sliding movement thereon. The sliding movement of the slide 2 is controlled and determined by two pins 3 which are inserted through the slots 4 and into the slide 2. The heads of the pins 3 are positioned in recesses which form a part of the slots and are flush with the lower surface of the blade member 1.

A music or piano wire 6 is secured appropriately to the slide at one end and extends outwardly to a position immediately above the upper surface of the spade type and surface 8 and is then looped around and returns to the slide whereat the other end portion is appropriately secured to the slide. The looped around portion forms what might be referred to as bearing means.

A roller 7 is preferably constructed ofa plastic material such as Teflon and is mounted by the bearing means and engages the upper surface of the spade end portion. Because of the inherent resilient nature of the music wire a small engagement force of a few ounces is exerted between the roller 7 and the upper surface of the spade type end portion. The upper surface of the spade type end portion is unpolished and this is for the purpose of preventing slippage when a stamp is being handled by the implement. The upper surface 9 of the slide 2 is grooved as indicated and the two sides 10 of the blade member 1 are knurled over a sutficient length to insure a secure hand grip by an operator of the implement. The blade member 1 and the slide 2 are preferably constructed of a solid plastic material, however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the device is susceptible of being made of many other materials of construction.

When in use, the implement is generally held like a pencil with the operators thumb resting on the upper surface 9 of the slide and by placing the spade type end surface under a stamp and moving the slide 2 forward by the use of the thumb, a stamp may be seized between the roller 7 and the upturned spade type end surface 8. It will also be appreciated that an operator of the implement may also secure more than one stamp by the use of the device in order that the stamps may be observed, lifted, transferred, etc.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by the use of the construction which has been disclosed hereinabove, the objects set forth with regard to the invention can be readily accomplished.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A stamp handling implement including in combination a generally flat solid blade member having a slightly upturned spade end portion having an upper surface, slot means in said blade member extending in a lengthwise direction, a slide positioned on the upper surface of said blade member, pin means in said slot means and extending into said slide to control the sliding movement thereof, a music wire connected to said slide and extending to said upper surface of said spade end portion and looped around to formbearing means and returning to said slide, said bearing means extending transverse to the length of said implement, a roller mounted on said bearing means and engaging said upper surface of said spade end portion with said music wire exerting a small engagement force between said roller and said upper surface of said spade end portion, said upper surface of said spade end portion being unpolished, movement of said slide causing said roller to travel on said upper surface of said spade end portion to hold a stamp therebetween.

2. A stamp handling implement including in combination a blade member having a slightly upturned end portion having a surface, a slide positioned on the upper surface of said blade member, means connecting said slide to said blade member for limited sliding movement thereon, a wire connected to said slide and extending to said upper surface of said upturned end portion and looped around to form bearing means and returning to said slide, said bearing means extending transverse to the length of said implement, a roller mounted on said bearing means and engaging said upper surface of said end portion with said wire exerting a small engagement force between said roller and said upper surface of said end portion, movement of said slide causing said roller to travel on said upper surface of said end portion to hold a stamp therebetween.

3. A device for handling generally fiat objects including, in combination, a blade member having an end portion with an upper surface, a slide, means connecting said blade member and slide together for movement of the two relative to each other, bearing means carried by said slide, a roller mounted on said bearing means and engaging said upper surface of said end portion, spring means acting on said roller to urge the same into engagement with said end portion with a small engagement force, movement of said blade member and slide relative to each other causing said roller to travel on said upper surface of said end portion to hold a generally flat object therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,857,724 Kaminski May 10, 1932 2,034,236 Jenckes Mar. 17, 1936 2,127,737 Johnson Aug. 23, 1938 2,231,883 Caccivio Feb. 18, 1941 2,394,788 Ku-pchick Feb. 12, 1946 2,716,910 Guerinet Sept. 6, 1955 

1. A STAMP HANDLING IMPLEMENT INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A GENERALLY FLAT SOLID BLADE MEMBER HAVING A SLIGHTLY UPTURNED SPADE END PORTION HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE, SLOT MEANS IN SAID BLADE MEMBER EXTENDING IN A LENGTHWISE DIRECTION, A SLIDE POSITIONED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BLADE MEMBER, PIN MEANS IN SAID SLOT MEANS AND EXTENDING INTO SAID SLIDE TO CONTROL THE SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREOF, A MUSIC WIRE CONNECTED TO SAID SLIDE AND EXTENDING TO SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SPADE END PORTION AND LOOPED AROUND TO FORM BEARING MEANS AND RETURNING TO SAID SLIDE, SAID BEARING MEANS EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTH OF SAID IMPLEMENT, A ROLLER MOUNTED ON SAID BEARING MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SPADE END PORTION WITH SAID MUSIC WIRE EXERTING A SMALL ENGAGEMENT FORCE BETWEEN SAID ROLLER AND SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SPADE END PORTION, SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SPADE END PORTION BEING UNPOLISHED, MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE CAUSING SAID ROLLER TO TRAVEL ON SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SPADE END PORTION TO HOLD A STAMP THEREBETWEEN. 